THE ROAD BEGINS HERE
SPEC MIX® Regionals
How does competing in the SPEC MIX BRICKLSAYER 500® all start? The yellow brick road starts at the qualifying Regionals Held all over North America beginning in late summer. The first place winners from these Regionals head to Las Vegas to compete with the other top masons for the “World’s Best Bricklayer” title and cash and prizes worth over $100,000 including a new Ford F-250 Truck.
Paving the Road to Las Vegas
Since 2003, attendees of the World of Concrete / World of Masonry in Las Vegas get to take part in the fun and excitement created from a full day of masonry events headlined by the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® National Championship. Voted as the “No. 1 thing to do at the “World of Concrete”, trade show this bricklaying competition is really a masonry party that attracts nearly 4,000 spectators. For many masons, competing in the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is a career defining moment. However, each of the masons competing for the title “World’s Best Bricklayer” and a new FORD F-250 plus $10,000 in cash and prizes knows that the road to Vegas starts by first winning a Regional qualifying contest.
That’s right, each year the SPEC MIX team puts on 16 or more (a record 23 for 2014!) regional competitions throughout the United States & Canada to create the roster for that National Event that already has spots saved for the previous year’s Champion and the Top Craftsman winner.
Preparation for these events is not an easy task, but the benefit of pulling together the masonry industry to showcase the masonry trade is worth the effort. Each regional event is run like a miniature tradeshow that may include exhibits, learning demos, spectator games and giveaways to provide fun and entertainment for the local masonry community. Key to these events’ success is the hard work of the SPEC MIX Representatives (“Mudslingers”) hosting the competitions.
Months before the competition they visit jobsites seeking bricklayer contestants and the support of local sponsors who are instrumental in pulling together the overall show. Then, two to three days before the competition takes place, the SPEC MIX Mudslingers put on their work boots and gloves to build the arena that includes everything from pallets of brick, bulk bags of SPEC MIX mortar and silos, to mixers, mast climbers, banners, and concessions for the crowd. When that’s all done; it’s game time, and the Regional SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER kicks off to find the next bricklayer with the skill, speed and stamina worthy of the trip to Las Vegas and the keys to that shiny new FORD truck.
There’s one question: Do you have what it takes?